Fool’s Fate
HipSync, 2026
9/10
The atypical guitar player Rik Wright leads his quartet, Fundamental Forces, through 7 unpredictable and jazz-ish tunes here.
The title track leads with Wright’s intricate guitar licks that complement James Dejoie’s animated sax and Greg Campbell’s thumping drums, and “Nothing But A Thang” follows with the frisky rhythm section amid rich sax and playful guitar.
“Luminescence” and “Glitter Bomb” land in the middle. The former opens with dreamy guitar and soulful sax before the strategic drums enter the cautious 10+ minutes, while the latter is anchored by Geoff Harper’s meticulous bass playing that suits the rock focused moments.
“Something Sad And Sweet” exits, and has the quartet interacting precisely and with much dynamic energy that’s mesmerizing and timeless in a jazz fusion sort of way.
An album that embraces improvisation and melodic textures, the setting can get firm, too, as Wright and company continue to evolve in their own iconoclastic and exciting way.
Travels well with: Pete Mills- This Is Now; Shawn Purcell- Oblivity